inspiration

Time!

Carve some out and claim it for yourself.

• Are there ways that you can make it easy for yourself to claim time for art?
• Are there small ways to work art making into your day?
• Are there little changes that you can make that would support your art practice?

Some of the most powerful art making habits that I practice require very little time. I encourage you to be open to seeing how you can fit tiny art making habits into your day.

1 – Take a picture

I noticed this series of shadows when I was sitting at the Addison Gallery of American Art.

Shadows are my thing. I notice them all the time on my walks. It is pretty easy to pull out my phone and capture the shadow. The shadows can then become, stencils, drawings or prints.

Photograph your thing!

2 – Flip through books

Go to the library or bookstore and skim books that look interesting to you. You could look at a certain technique or artist or artistic style. Maybe even get inspiration from a completely new approach that you have never tried.

I hardly ever read an art book. I look at pictures and get more of a feeling from the books.

3 – Doodle, scribble or write

Find a pen and a stack of index cards and leave them everywhere:

• beside your bed
• on the coffee table
• in your purse
• in the car
• in your backpack

The little index card journal can be used for:

• quick sketches
• imaginary drawings
• collage
• reminder notes and more

4 – Enjoy nature!

Nature can be an infinite source of inspiration for your art practice. Think of “nature” in the broadest sense. You can step out your office door in the city and let the sun shine down on your face!

Air, water, earth – find some and smile!

Let it sink in and then you can bring the feeling back to the studio in the form of:

• sketches
• ideas
• photos
• tools and
• new energy and plans.

I hope I have given you some ideas on how to make time for your art practice. Maybe take an art class.

If you can claim a little time to feed your art practice, then that creative energy will spill over into other parts of your day. Enjoy!

I am so lucky that I live near lots of galleries and art museums. Yesterday, I went to the Addison Gallery of American Art.

This is my reflection in a linocut by Josef Albers. I was struck by the simple graphics and bold contrast of solid black and confident white line. I was inspired to play with the abstract graphic line with materials in my studio.

I am also interested in the literal reflection of me in the work I see and the abstract idea that I am reflected in works that I like.  What do you think? Have you ever noticed reflections and shadows when viewing art?

This photo is by Wynn Bullock. I was drawn to the lights and darks, the tree and moon. It gives me enough and creates mystery as well.

We are lucky now that we can take photos at exhibits and bring the experience home.

my reflection in Hand by John Coplans

I love to walk into the small galleries and stand in the middle of the room and just take it all in. I found myself breathing deeply and smiling.

This is a panoramic shot of the Geometry part of the 4 x4 exhibit. Step in….. breathe and experience.

This is a rayograph/photogram by Man Ray at the gallery at Addison Gallery of American ART. I was smiling here because I think that gel prints can be a lot like the layers of a rayograph/photogram. A rayograph/photogram is created by placing objects on light sensitive paper and then exposing the paper. Light is block and changed by the objects creating images on paper.

Twisted Planes by by László Moholy-Nagy

I admired the cast shadows as much as the sculpture itself.

Then as I left I was just as inspired by the shadows of the trees and me.

I encourage you to step out to a gallery or museum and see yourself in some art. Take that back to the studio and make stuff!

If you are interested in playing with relief printing – then join us in the online Soft Plate Relief Printing class – starts soon. READ the details on the workshop page.

It is important to transform inspiration into action.

I am often inspired by things that most folks would not even notice:

• weeds in a crack in the street
• shadow on a window
• rust in an old piece of metal

I do just collect these ideas and impressions, but at some point they need to become more than mere inspiration.

Today I enjoyed looking at patterns through the ages in a new book at the library.

I was amazing to see the CYMK color swatches to match each pattern or textile. They confirmed principles that I try to use:

• range of value
• variety and
• repetition

I have been working my new inspirations into designs for soft foam printing plates.

I encourage you to:

• be open to inspiration that might be at your feet
• take action
• make something

Enjoy!

I have been keeping busy with a variety of printing, drawing and collage projects. Enjoy some studio wall shots.

I am having a lot of fun making these 2″ thumbnail, collage gelatin prints. I think they will end up being pages of a book.

These thumbnail landscapes worked up really nicely.

I find these are great skill builders for enhancing design skills. And they are fast and satisfying.

This is a collage of the different types of textured marks that I use in gelatin printmaking.

This was a really fun and confidence building exercise in painting watercolor figures, with just a few strokes.

I am playing with some different book forms, drum leaf, stab binding and staggered fold.

I am totally seeing landscapes and skies with new eyes. I can see why they are such a popular subject matter. I get new inspiration everyday.

I played with patterns and painting a couple of angels for the holiday.

One day I made a couple of collages with minimal paper.

Playing with a few sketches inspired by my Panera coffee cup.

I think the idea is to listen to your hunches, inklings and idea and act on them, even if you think you are not ready or not good enough.

Just play with printmaking and more!

Join me in an online class soon. Check out the current online printmaking workshops.

I think as artists we see things differently.

Even when I see shapes and shadows and try to capture the energy with my camera, sometimes it does not translate.

I have learned to let go of that gap and do what I can with what I have.

Maybe the experience in the present moment is all I will get. Maybe my job is to help other have those experiences. Hmmmm?

That is why I love to teach gelatin printmaking to folks from all over the world. If you would like to experience the joys of printmaking without a press then check out the current online workshops.